THE CLASSIFICATION AND PHYSICS OF SUPERNOVAE

Observed spectra of supernovae allow the empirical classification of supernovae into two basic categories, Type I with little or no evidence of hydrogen, and Type II with obvious evidence for hydrogen. The broad class of Type I can be subdivided depending on whether helium or silicon and other intermediate mass elements is observed. Understanding the physical processes that underlie these classifications---the progenitor evolution. the explosion mechanism, and end products---requires calculation of radiative transfer and model spectra. While most Type II occur in evolved massive stars that undergo core collapse. some may span the dividing line between degenerate and non-degenerate carbon burning and involve both core collapse and thermonuclear explosion. Type Ia are still most plausibly explained as thermonuclear explosions in carbon/oxygen white dwarfs in binary systems. Type Ib reveal helium atmospheres and are probably the result of core collapse in the helium core of a massive star that has lost its hydrogen envelope to a binary companion or to a wind. Type Ic supernovae are probably related to Type Ib but have also lost their helium envelope to reveal a mantle rich in oxygen.